A petition has been launched to stop white people 'blacking up' as Zulu warriors at the Lewes bonfire.

The town's annual celebration is one of the biggest in the country and many dress up as spear-carrying Zulus to mark the occasion.

But campaign group 'Bonfire Against Racism' has called it a 'racist act' and asked the Borough Bonfire Society to 'stop painting faces black'.

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The town's annual celebration is one of the biggest in the country and many dress up as spear-carrying Zulus to mark the occasion (pictured in 2013)

Campaigners have started a petition calling on members of the Borough Bonfire Society to not black up their faces this year

The petition has already gained more than 1,200 signatures.

It said: 'The decision of a small fraction of the membership of Borough Bonfire Society to engage in the offensive practice of blacking up runs counter to the overall spirit of the event.

'This public display of caricatured, negative stereotypes of black Africans within our community is racist and serves only to increase tension and division within our diverse community.

'We ask Borough Bonfire Society to consider the adverse effect this action has on members of the Lewes community, however unintended they might be, and call on them to cease this practice with immediate effect.'

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Visitor James Haycock, 54, said: 'It's shocking this type of thing still goes in the name of heritage and tradition. We did away with the Black and White Minstrels many years ago and this should go the same way. I am fully behind the campaign.'

Another resident called Prue, 61, who wouldn't give her surname, said: 'It is meant as a respectful tribute to the Zulu nation not a racist caricature.

'All the costumes are authentic. I believe this year real Zulu dancers will be there. I think it is an over-reaction from people who don't understand the context.'

A spokeswoman for Bonfire Against Racism added: 'Painting a face poster-paint black is very much a caricature. It's important to show our children perpetuating racial stereotypes is nothing to do with Bonfire Night.

'We are saying keep the costumes...but stop painting faces black.'

'Bonfire Against Racism' have asked for Borough Bonfire Society members to not 'black up'

This year the marchers are joined by Zulu Tradition, a group of dancer from the South African province of KwaZulu Natal.

Borough's Chairman Jason Winter said the views expressed on the site were 'ignorant and arrogant' and the Zulus had been part of the Bonfire tradition for decades.

He said: 'Just how far do you take 'political correctness'?'

He said the Zulu dancers from KwaZulu Natal 'certainly don't find what we do offensive'.

Writing on Twitter today Richard Lindley said: 'When the Lewes Martyrs were burned alive 460 years ago they were protesting against bigotry and intolerance.

'When white people black up now, it's exactly the kind of bigotry the Martyrs gave their lives to oppose.

'It's stupid, it's offensive, it's racist and it's the opposite of what bonfire is supposed to commemorate.

'When did bonfire stop being about true history and start being about what your grandparents wore? That isn't tradition. Help make it stop.'

Josef Kafka wrote on Facebook: ''Blacking up' is racist and extremely offensive.'

However Robin Miller said: 'Lewes Borough have been Zulu Warriors since the Late 1960's and have raised loads of money for local charities over the years. I guess the people who started the petition have no idea what good this society does. PC Brigade being so blinkered.'

Another commentator said: 'It's becoming increasingly sad that racism/hate and offensive behaviour can be found in every innocent aspect of life.'